Mazda has announced the EPA-estimated fuel economy figures for its 2016 CX-9 crossover, and the word of the day is efficiency.
Thanks in large part to its lighter SKYACTIV platform and turbocharged motor, the midsize model achieves ratings of 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, when equipped with front-wheel drive. These numbers make the new CX-9 the most efficient in its class. That class, to be specific, is for non-hybrid, three-row, midsize crossovers.
Should all-wheel driver performance be your thing, the CX-9 still manages excellent numbers at 21 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined mpg. By comparison, the second generation CX-9 is 32 percent more efficient than the first generation.
“SKYACTIV Technology once again demonstrates there’s no need to compromise between driving enjoyment and frugality — even when it comes to hauling around your family,” said Robert Davis, senior vice president of U.S. operations. “CX-9 elevates our brand with a host of new, advanced technology and luxury features but stays true to our company principles: lightweight, fun to drive, stylish and purposeful.”
Under the CX-9’s sleeker hood is a new SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque (on 93 octane fuel). Though down 21 horses from the previous CX-9, the extra torque and 200 pounds of weight reduction (300 in AWD spec) mean greater performance and nimbler handling. Unique to Mazda’s new engine is its Dynamic Pressure Turbo with a cooled EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) to lower engine temperatures without adding extra fuel.
Mazda’s optional predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel drive can sense a loss in traction by measuring road and vehicle conditions more than 200 times per second via 27 sensors, which is approximately the same sensitivity as a vulnerable impala taking a sip of water in the savanna.
On a more subjective note, the new CX-9 is one of the more handsome models on the market, so the complement of leading fuel economy figures should help the crossover sell quite well come this summer.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.